FROM 2019 to 2023, the Fiji Police Force recorded more than 2800 offences committed by children between the ages of 10 and 17.

Assistant Police Commissioner Mesake Waqa told the Director of Public Prosecutions’ annual convention in Sigatoka this week these figures showed a worrying trend among juveniles.

“The issue of juvenile justice in Fiji has become increasingly pressing as evidenced in the figures presented, which suggest a disturbing rise of serious offences committed by juveniles over the last five years from 2019 to 2023 and those between the ages of 10 and 14,” he said.

“The reported cases of juvenile crime show that for 2020, we had 721 cases, 2019 we had 573 cases, for 2022 we had 514 cases, for 2021 we had 542 cases while in 2023, we had 457 cases.

“When you put these stats by age groups, the highest offenders are at the age of 17 years with 1378 cases.

“For offenders of 16 years, 755 cases, offenders at 15 years, 415 cases, offenders at 14 years, 152 cases, offenders at the age of 13 years, we have 79 cases, offenders at 12, we have 17, those at 11 years we have five cases, and offenders between 10 and 11, we have four cases.”

ACP Waqa said the Southern Division recorded 1250 juvenile offenders while the Western Division recorded 819 cases.

“Offences related to sexual offences – rape 206 cases, sexual assault 89 cases, defilement between 13 and 16 years, 75 cases, indecent assault 18 cases, miscellaneous offences 263 cases.

“Currently, the Fiji Police Force has a framework for addressing juvenile offenders from ages 10 to 14 as outlined under the Crimes Act 2009 and the Juvenile Act, which enables the Fiji Police Force to take action against minors in these specific situations.”